Five die in manure pit horror

[fan4collingwood]

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,22015378-5005961,00.html

FIVE people have been killed by methane gas from a dairy farm manure pit - after each victim went in to try to save the person before them, it was reported today.

The victims included two children.

The Associated Press said US emergency workers called to the tragedy in Richmond, Virginia, believed people had climbed into the pit in a frantic effort to save others.

"It was a domino effect with one person going in, the second person going after them," Sheriff Don Farley told the news agency.

The victims have been named as Scott Showalter, 33, his wife, Phyllis, 34, their children, Shayla, 11, and Christina, nine, and farm worker Amous Stoltzfus, 24.

Mr Showalter is believed to have succumbed to the gas first while trying to clear a blockage in the pit as manure was being transferred from one area to another.

It is believed Mr Stoltzfus next went in to help, followed by Mrs Showalter and finally the children.




Pity the Herald sun reporters weren't there to lend a hand.